It is time to add fake ransomware attacks as another cybersecurity threat to be on the lookout for. According to Bleeping Computer, a fake ransomware gang is targeting U.S. organizations, including small businesses, with fake ransomware attacks. Now you may be asking yourself what exactly is fake ransomware and why does it matter.
The attack
The attackers, known as Midnight, are reaching out to U.S. companies and threatening them with the release of private business data. There is a catch though, they don’t actually have any data to leak! That is right, it is one giant hoax by the Midnight group.
Fake ransomware
This is a low tech cyberattack in the sense it usually does not involve any actual malware and is usually done through a phishing email. The email will say that your business data is in their possession and in order for them to not release the data, you need to pay them money, usually in the form of crypto currency. These types of attacks are successful because they apply immense pressure to unprepared victims.
What you can do
The number one thing you can do is to be aware of these attack types and educate your team. This can be done by including short conversations in meetings on known cybersecurity threats.
Another step you can take is to have dependable backups of your data. This means backups that you can rely on as being up to date, accurate, and safe to restore from.
Lastly, this shows the importance of having a cybersecurity professional you can utilize to investigate whether or not your business data and business network have been impacted in a timely manner.
Learn more today
As we mentioned above, awareness of cybersecurity threats is one of the more important steps you can take. In order to learn more about current threats, steps you can take to protect yourself, or to learn more on cybersecurity, check out Small Business, Big Threat!